Project Team
- Benjamin Ramirez, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Indigenous Studies, Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Lead Applicant)
- Shawn Wilson, Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies, Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Evan Habkirk, Lecturer, Indigenous Studies, Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Corinna Netherton, Lecturer, Indigenous Studies, Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Themes
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Indigenizing Curriculum
- Interdisciplinary
Year
2025
About the Project
With the anticipated expansion of UBC Okanagan’s Indigenous Content Breadth Requirement (ICR) for all Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science undergraduate students, Indigenous Studies 102: Introduction to Indigeneity: Ways of Knowing (INDG 102) is preparing to undergo a methodical curriculum redesign to seamlessly meet the anticipated needs and priorities of a rapidly growing student cohort while supporting sustainability for course instructors and teaching assistants. The first-phase project described in this application will employ Indigenous methodologies and pedagogical approaches to enhance and broaden the student learning experience, extending the current Western-centric science curriculum by integrating Indigenous perspectives on core course content.
Expanding its reach throughout UBC Okanagan, a redesigned INDG 102 will provide a formative educational experience, particularly for undergraduate science students. This redesign will focus on a multi-phase innovative revision that supports faculty capacity and sustainability for course growth, builds consistency across course sections, encourages student engagement and meaningful feedback opportunities, and encourages meaningful engagement with local Indigenous Knowledge Holders and with community partnerships through core course topics. A carefully considered and well-developed course redesign will afford INDG 102 sustainability while supporting UBC’s commitments to Indigenous engagement and innovative pedagogy (p. 5) as outlined in Shaping the Next Century. This course redesign encourages long-term relationships that foster UBC Okanagan’s teaching and learning priorities through its connection to local Indigenous communities, land, and non-human relatives and asserts the validity of Indigenous Knowledges alongside Western science paradigms.